The day Pep Guardiola explained why Messi does not run for the entire match

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has given an insight into the way that Lionel Messi thinks. The Spanish coach was in charge at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, during which time he and Messi took the club to new heights, becoming the most dominant team in Europe.

Messi has been criticised for walking in games in the last few years, but Guardiola has explained that there is a process behind it. "He's watching now, he's walking," Guardiola said whilst watching a video of Messi as part of the 'This is Football' series on Amazon Prime Video.

"He's walking... That's what I like the most. He is not out of the game, he's involved. He's moving his head: right, left, left, right. He knows exactly what is going to happen. But his head is always like this [Guardiola turns his head left and right]. He's always moving.

"He's not running, but he's always watching what's happening. He smells where are the weak points in the back four. After five, ten minutes, he has the map in his eyes, in his brain to know exactly where is the space and what is the panorama. It's like being in the jungle and I have to survive. And he knows if I move here, here, I will have more space to attack."

There are rumours that Messi, who is a free agent next summer, could look to reunite with Guardiola at Manchester City. On Thursday, November 19, the Catalan signed a new two-year extension with the English club.